ˈhan(d)-tə-ˈhand 
ˈhan-də-
: involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact
hand-to-hand fighting
: at very close range
Examples of hand-to-hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Here was fought a strenuous trench and hand-to-hand battle between German defenders and Russian attackers.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2025
Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Police radio traffic indicated the gunman was at one point standing at the end of a driveway, wearing a shirt and jeans but shoeless, occasionally shifting the gun from hand to hand.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-to-hand
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The director even goes as far as removing David Holmes’ score during the hand-to-hand combat scenes.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Here was fought a strenuous trench and hand-to-hand battle between German defenders and Russian attackers.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2025
Adverb
In the weight room, David drops into a plank pose and moves the length of an agility ladder, hand to hand, down and back, pausing only when Will cracks a joke.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Police radio traffic indicated the gunman was at one point standing at the end of a driveway, wearing a shirt and jeans but shoeless, occasionally shifting the gun from hand to hand.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-to-hand
Cite this Entry
“Hand-to-hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-to-hand. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share